Christie sends along nominations for Bergen prosecutor, high court

By JOHN REITMEYER

state house bureau |

The Record

Governor Christie formally submitted two previously announced high-profile nominations to the state Senate on Monday for consideration.

Judge Faustino Fernandez-Vina was nominated by Christie to fill an open seat on the state Supreme Court, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gurbir Grewal was nominated by the governor to be the next Bergen County prosecutor.

Both nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the 40-member Senate. No hearings are scheduled as the state Legislature remains on break for the November legislative elections.

Fernandez-Vina, 51, serves as the assignment judge for the Superior Court in Camden County. He is one of three pending nominees for the seven-member Supreme Court.

The other two — Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman and a utility regulator, Robert Hanna — have yet to face a confirmation hearing as Senate Democrats have raised questions about their political party affiliations and their independence from the governor.

If confirmed, Fernandez-Vina would be the second Latino to serve on the Supreme Court.

Grewal, a Glen Rock resident, would replace John Molinelli, who has served as Bergen County's prosecutor since being nominated by Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2002. Molinelli was reappointed by Gov. Jon Corzine and has continued to serve as a holdover since his term expired in January.

Grewal has worked since 2010 in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, where he is the deputy chief of the economic crimes unit and computer hacking and IP crimes unit.

If confirmed, he would be the first Sikh in state history to serve as a county prosecutor.

Christie sends along nominations for Bergen prosecutor, high court

By JOHN REITMEYER

state house bureau |

The Record

Governor Christie formally submitted two previously announced high-profile nominations to the state Senate on Monday for consideration.

Judge Faustino Fernandez-Vina was nominated by Christie to fill an open seat on the state Supreme Court, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gurbir Grewal was nominated by the governor to be the next Bergen County prosecutor.

Both nominations are subject to the advice and consent of the 40-member Senate. No hearings are scheduled as the state Legislature remains on break for the November legislative elections.

Fernandez-Vina, 51, serves as the assignment judge for the Superior Court in Camden County. He is one of three pending nominees for the seven-member Supreme Court.

The other two — Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman and a utility regulator, Robert Hanna — have yet to face a confirmation hearing as Senate Democrats have raised questions about their political party affiliations and their independence from the governor.

If confirmed, Fernandez-Vina would be the second Latino to serve on the Supreme Court.

Grewal, a Glen Rock resident, would replace John Molinelli, who has served as Bergen County's prosecutor since being nominated by Gov. James E. McGreevey in 2002. Molinelli was reappointed by Gov. Jon Corzine and has continued to serve as a holdover since his term expired in January.

Grewal has worked since 2010 in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark, where he is the deputy chief of the economic crimes unit and computer hacking and IP crimes unit.

If confirmed, he would be the first Sikh in state history to serve as a county prosecutor.